70619404 - MCAS Low-Scoring Student Support

Account

Description

FY2010Spending

FY2011GAA

7061-9404

MCAS Low-Scoring Student Support For grants to cities, towns and regional school districts to provide targeted remediation programs for students in the classes of 2003 to 2015, inclusive, scoring in level 1 or 2 on the Massachusetts comprehensive assessment system, MCAS, exam established by the board of elementary and secondary education pursuant to the provisions of sections 1D and 1I of said chapter 69 of the General Laws; provided, that the department and districts shall ensure that services are available to students with disabilities; provided further, that in awarding remediation funds, preference may be given to schools and districts at risk of or determined to be under-performing in accordance with said sections 1J and 1K of said chapter 69; provided further, that the purpose of this program shall be to improve students' performance on the MCAS exam through replication of services and educational strategies with proven results as determined by the department of elementary and secondary education; provided further, that such programs shall supplement currently funded local, state and federal programs at the school or district; provided further, that funds shall be expended for a competitive grant program to fund academic support and college transition services to be implemented in fiscal year 2011, and operated by public institutions of higher learning or by public-private partnerships in the commonwealth, for students in the graduating classes of 2003 to 2011, inclusive, who have completed high school but have not yet obtained a competency determination as defined in said section 1D of said chapter 69 as measured by the MCAS assessment instrument authorized by said section 1I of said chapter 69, but who are working to pass the English and math MCAS tests, obtain a competency determination and earn a high school diploma; provided further, that for the purpose of the programs, appropriated funds may be expended through August 31, 2011, to allow for summer remediation programs; provided further, that funds shall be expended for a competitive grant program to fund Pathways programs targeting eleventh and twelfth graders, instituted by local school districts, public institutions of higher education and qualified public and private educational services organizations and One Stop Career Centers including, but not limited to, school-to-work connecting activities, creating worksite learning experiences for students as an extension of the classroom, outreach programs for students who will need post-twelfth grade remediation to attain the skills necessary to pass MCAS and counseling programs to educate parents and high school students on post-twelfth grade remediation options; provided further, that funds shall be expended for a competitive grant program, guidelines for which shall be developed by the department of elementary and secondary education, for intensive remediation programs in communities with students in the graduating classes of 2003 to 2015, inclusive, who have not obtained a competency determination or have scored in levels 1 or 2 on either the English or math MCAS exams; provided further, that the department of elementary and secondary education may give preference for such assistance to those districts with a high percentage of high school students scoring in level 1 on the MCAS exam in English and math; provided further, that eligible applicants shall include individual high schools, and those institutions which shall have partnered with a high school or group of high schools; provided further, that no district shall receive a grant from this appropriation until the district submits to the department of elementary and secondary education a comprehensive district plan pursuant to the provisions of said section 1I of said chapter 69, to improve performance of all student populations including, but not limited to, students with disabilities; provided further, that any evaluation will examine the likelihood and efficiency of replication of these programs and practices in school districts with a large percentage of English language learners; provided further, that these funds may be expended for professional development related to these programs; provided further, that the department shall issue a report not later than February 2, 2011, as a condition of continued funding under this account, in collaboration with the department of higher education, describing MCAS support programs for the graduating classes of 2003 to 2015, inclusive, funded by items 7061-9404 and 7027-0019, school to work accounts, institutions of public higher education and other sources, including federal sources; provided further, that such report shall include, but not be limited to, the number of students eligible to participate in such programs, the number of students participating in such programs, the number of students who have passed the MCAS assessment and obtained a competency determination through these programs but not met local graduation requirements and the number of students who have passed the MCAS assessment and obtained a competency determination through these programs and met local graduation requirements; provided further, that said report shall be provided to the chairs of the house and senate ways and means committees and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education; provided further, that any grant funds distributed from this item to a city, town or regional school district shall be deposited with the treasurer of such city, town or regional school district and held in a separate account and shall be expended by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district without further appropriation, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary; and provided further, that no funds shall be expended for personnel costs

General Fund 97.848%

FMAP Budget Relief Fund 2.152%

10,296,927

9,094,804

Veto Explanation:
I am vetoing this language and reducing this amount because none of the enhanced FMAP funds have been received from or committed by the federal government.